Tentmakers
MORE MAN POWER !
‘More man-power at less expense to missions’.
Interesting!! That is made
possible by Tentmakers. Tentmakers are mission-minded Christians who support
themselves by secular work and who share the good news with others. They may be
business entrepreneurs, professionals, employees, paid voluntary workers or
Christians in professional exchange, funded research, internship
or study programs. They serve at little financial cost to the church or
missions. Through their profession they reach out to an un-reached community or
nation. A Tentmaker is a Christian who needs to be recognized by members of the
host church / mission agency / prayer group as someone other than a “religious
professional”. In terms of his
commitment, calling, motivation and training, he is a “missionary” in every
sense.
Unfortunately not all
Christians with jobs are Tentmakers. Many of them have little or no ministry in
their work place or where they reside. Probably a small percent of Christians
are Tentmakers.
In many places, initiated
conversations by Tentmakers have turned into evangelistic Bible studies, or
discipleship Bible studies, which in turn have helped the missions /churches to
expand their work in that area. This is the basic ministry of Tentmakers and
they are able to do it more effectively because of their extensive, natural
contacts among the people around them.
Although ‘Tentmakers Ministry’
is not new, only now is it realized as an important strategy through which the
un-reached people of our country and the world may be reached by the Word of
God. The Tentmakers network gives every believer the structure needed to use
their skills and talents, for the glory of God, in reaching the nations of the
earth. We need to introduce and promote this strategy to Christians in all
walks of life. Every Christian must be made to understand that he or she is a
missionary at the work-spot. They must be taught how to share the love of
Christ in their everyday lives. Missions must come forward to accept these
people as a part of their working folk. We are not interested in seeing just an
increase in the Christian population in
Why This
Approach?
1.
Since the population of our
country increases every second, it is getting
more
difficult to reach out people groups with a small proportion of missionaries.
2.
In the emerging
socio-political situation in our country, going to a new place as a
“missionary” is becoming less feasible.
3.
Many of the areas, nations,
people groups, colleges, etc. are restricted to Christian missionaries, whereas
they are open to Christian professionals.
In the present situation,
unless every Christian rises up to proclaim Christ whenever possible, it is
difficult to transform our country with the gospel.
Missions and Tentmakers
Career (full-time) missionaries have done and
are doing a great work in our country and other parts of the world. They are
assets to our Indian Missions. Tentmakers and Career Missionaries are different
in many ways and yet serve the same
God in His
kingdom according to their calling. Neither is “superior” to the other; more of
both are needed in
There are thousands of
‘Christian Professionals’ concentrated in some parts of our country and a few
scattered throughout our country. Some of them have real burden to reach our
country. are unaware that they can contribute a lot to
God’s Yet many kingdom. The missions should come forward to take this strategy
to people, and challenge them to become ‘Tentmakers’. Missions should give
training to such people and guide them to unreached places. Also the missions
should open separate departments for “Tentmakers” and commission them as
missionaries. Missions should allot ministry responsibilities for them suitably,
monitor them, get reports from them, provide pastoral care for them...
What can you do?
Ø
Challenge Christians to
become Tentmakers.
Ø
Encourage them to find new
jobs or to get transfers to unreached places.
Ø
Open a separate department
in your mission for Tentmakers.
Ø
Send professionals to
unreached places, support them for a short period, and assist them to find a
job within that period.
Ø
Commission Christian
professionals in different places, who have a vision to reach people as ‘missionaries’.
Ø
Give them job descriptions, get
reports to increase their accountability, and give them pastoral care.
Ø
Conduct short term training
programmes for Tentmakers.
Ø
Encourage professionals for
short term mission work (e.g. during holidays)
What will you get?
Ø
More man power at less
expense.
Ø
You can reach unreached
people of many fields. (e.g. Government officers, students
inside college campuses, etc.)
Ø
You can reach unreached
places (including those closed to Gospel)
Ø
You will get skilled people
for your own mission development.
Examples
Ø
The Honorary CEO of a mission is a senior engineer.
Ø
Another mission has recognized many teachers as missionaries and also
sent one couple to a restricted country.
Ø
Partners of a third mission are professionals who are involved in
mission work.
Ø
President of a mission is a scientist.
Ø
South Asia Director of another mission is the Correspondent of a
private
For more information contact:
1-300/118, Arul Colony,
ECIL Post,
Andhra Pradesh,
( (91) 040 - 27134530 / 5
E-Mail: tentmakers@imaindia.org
Web Site: http://imaindia.org